the agency would be one of the first in california to use that new technology. that's not flying with some people. john ramos on new assurances that it would not be used as a spy in the sky. >> reporter: what's in a name? displayed outside the alameda county building today was a model of a military drone. >> i take offense to the term drone. >> reporter: the sheriff's office was showing a small unmanned aerial system. much has been made about the department's desire to purchase such an aircraft. today they made their case. >> if someone's child is missing and we have the opportunity to locate the child with the use of this device, it's all worth it. >> reporter: while the department touts it primarily as a search-and-rescue cool, it is not ruling out using in for surveillance in tactical situations. that has opponents fearing the aircraft could be used to spy on individuals without a warrant. the sheriff denies all this. >> we don't use these types of devices for surveillance or gathering intel on civilians. it's used to gather intelligence on a scene of mission